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lsat reading comp

After a go at a Reading Comprehension passage or two, you’ve come to realize that Reading Comprehension might not be a total breeze just because you know how to read. But then you hit your next mental block, which is the belief that studying for RC is pointless. How can a few months of studying change the way you read? You’ve been reading for hundreds of months—since you were a wee thing—and how you read now is just ingrained in you, right?

Be honest, how often do you regularly read something that is multiple paragraphs long while keeping track of multiple things at once? (The pictures in the BuzzFeed “articles” don’t count as paragraphs). With the reading for your classes, you’re either reading for the facts or for a general sense of what’s going on so you can raise your hand at least once a class (or every other class). And, you have as much time as you’re willing to spend to reread paragraphs to make sure you have the right idea.

RC is completely different from the reading you typically do, which means that how to do RC is actually not already ingrained in you. It’s a skill set that you can master with practice.

Reading Comprehension is probably the most ignored section of the LSAT. People tend to think something like, “I’ve been reading since I was five. If I can’t get it by now, I’m just gonna have to live with it.” But, Reading Comp isn’t reading as usual, so putting in the practice does pay off. Reading Comp’s peculiarities are most evident from the Comparative Reading passages. You get two passages and a single set of questions related to one or both passages. When’s the last time you had to go through something like that reading, say, the Huffington Post?

In case you’ve been struggling with Comparative Reading passages, we’ve got your back. Here are some of the strategies our students find helpful.

If you’re familiar with the sprawling fantasy epic that is J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, then you probably recognize those wise words from Treebeard the Ent. (You probably know that today is Tolkien Reading Day, as well.) What you may not as readily recognize is the applicability of this quotation, and of reading The Lord of The Rings, to the Reading Comprehension section of the LSAT.

LSAT Reading Comprehension passages are often dry and dense, and thus many students find this section particularly daunting. Whether the subject is a scientific analysis of a platypus’ bill or a historical description of the cakewalk, it is often difficult to unpack these passages in order to effectively answer questions about them.

The February LSAT is next weekend. You probably want to panic, but don’t. This is exciting. You’ve prepared for weeks and weeks, and all that hard work is going to pay off. Keep reminding yourself of that, all the way until the test. And when you’re taking the test itself next Saturday, keep telling yourself these things to stay calm:

It’s Just Another Practice Exam – People tend to think that their LSAT will somehow be different. They think that since it’s the real LSAT exam, it will somehow be harder. But it won’t be. Sure, things change here and there, but for the most part it’s not going to be new or different. Remember: Everyone around you on LSAT test day studied for the same thing.

The LSAT is Incredibly Interesting – This applies mostly to LSAT Reading Comp. We all know that Reading Comp can really suck. Who wants to learn about 20th century literature? You do. That’s right. Get excited, because you’re reading about the most interesting thing you’ve ever heard of.

While today would already be a great day just by virtue of being a Monday, this particular Monday is extra-special because it’s the day after International Literacy Day! The timing is uncanny, given that LSAT Reading Comprehension may have reduced some of you to suspecting that you might be illiterate after all.

By this point, you probably know the really big stuff: figuring out how many viewpoints are expressed in a passage and whether the author is present, knowing that an example in the passage will most often lead to question about that example, and so forth. But you’re still getting things wrong, and if I asked you why, you’d mumble something about how you read too slowly or some other nonsense. So sit down, and let Auntie Laura tell you what mistakes you’re making in LSAT Reading Comprehension and how you can fix them.

Last year’s June LSAT saw the surprise introduction of two-page Logic Games. In retrospect, that’s a tough act to follow. It’s been a day since this year’s June LSAT, and this time there were no such surprises. Everything went pretty much according to expectation.

I’ve heard from a number of students who took the June LSAT (as well as checked out yesterday’s 2013 June LSAT Instant Recap) and no one I’ve talked to was too surprised by anything on the test. With a few small exceptions, the consensus seems that it was a typical LSAT.

The Logical Reasoning sections from yesterday’s June LSAT seem to have been fairly unremarkable in difficulty. There were easy questions, medium questions and hard questions, as there always are. Some rare question types made appearances: crux questions continue their recent streak, and if you though agree questions were dead, they were only just hibernating.

When given a choice between doing an LSAT Reading Comp section and getting a root canal, many LSAT-takers would opt for the dental work without hesitation.

This notorious section can be dense, dull and difficult, and as the June LSAT approaches, you may find yourself frustrated because your Reading Comp scores refuse to budge. Fear not. Just as with the rest of the LSAT, practice makes perfect, and with these tips you’ll find yourself inching ever closer to your goal score. And all without novocain!

Now that February LSAT scores are out, the June LSAT looms ahead. If you’re planning on taking the June LSAT, it’s okay if you haven’t done much of anything yet. As time goes by, your inaction will become less and less OK. Kind of like a 40-year-old showing up to work in a high schooler’s wardrobe: what once looked perfectly normal starts to work against you.

First of all: go to LSAC’s website and register for the June LSAT. Do it as soon as you can. The earlier you register, the better the choice of June LSAT testing centers you’ll have. Getting your pick of June LSAT test centers now will keep you from having to spend the night before the June LSAT in some godforsaken motel by the freeway somewhere, listening to the regular clientele entertain their clientele. More importantly, once you’re registered for the June LSAT you can circle June 10 on your calendar as the day you’ll take the June LSAT.

LSAT Reading Comprehension is a fickle mistress. You could be blessed with a difficult passage on the same topic as your senior thesis, or you could be cursed with a science passage that has nearly as much Latin as English.

You could have one RC section slotted in third, early enough that you’re still fresh but late enough for you to have built up some momentum. Or you could have back-to-back RC sections to start off the test.

Whatever the gods of fate (LSAC) are going to throw your way on LSAT test day, you need to be prepared. But so many people feel that they’re limited in how much they can improve in RC. While it’s certainly a different process than Logical Reasoning and Logic Games, there is a process to improve.

If you haven’t yet freaked out that Thanksgiving is tomorrow, here’s something that might turn your hair white: The December LSAT is in 10 days. Fear not. Turkey with family and friends need not impede your studying for the LSAT. Here’s your plan:

Tomorrow, sneak some LSAT studying in in the morning. Force yourself to wake up at a respectable hour and hit the books. Try to shirk as many preparatory duties for the feast as you can, but even if you have to bake the turkey you can sneak in some LSAT reading comp passages while everything’s in the oven.

Then, enjoy Thanksgiving with your family, friends or well-chosen strangers. You get the rest of the day off to eat, watch football, reprise long-dormant family disputes, or do whatever else you like to do on Thanksgiving. Do your best to forget about the LSAT and have fun.